I need a hunt…

[Tmac]

So you can hunt OTC deer in Washington....?
I understand not agreeing with the politics but I would give my left nut to be able to hunt deer OTC every year.

You can in AZ, no donated gonads needed. You also can do so in a number of other western states. Some any weapon, some restricted usually to archery.

 

[Firestone]

Elk otc 2nd season or 3rd in Colorado

 

[wind gypsy]

I'm in the same boat on the lack of tags because I knew i'd get a WY antelope tag with 10 points but played with fire a bit too much on point creep and didn't get a tag.

Wolf hunting sounds more appealing to me than a low grade tag or spending buku on landowner tags.

 

[Coyote Commander]

And over time, I've realized there's usually a really big buck or three in every zone. Maybe not a 200", but definitely 170s and even 180s. The more guys think a zone is crap, the more true that usually is.

Ten years ago I’d have agreed with you.

But times have changed. These OTC and hard hit areas are just getting shellacked these days. Everybody and their brothers uncle wants a mule deer these days, and most are more than happy to go home with a forkie. And let’s face it, there’s nothing dumber on this planet than young mule deer!

Nobody spends more time afield in my home area than me. If there were some 170s and 180s around, I’d be finding them. A 150-160 is a real challenge these days. I’ll see just one or two of those a year these days.

And let’s be realistic, a 170 or 180 “or three” in thousands of square miles of country, private land, outfitter land, a man can waste a LOT of precious time trying to find it. And that’s the real litmus test, when the outfitters are sending guys home with 140s on the high end, you know somethings amuck.

Which is almost fine by me anymore. I’d rather hunt whitetails at this point than runt mulies. If it wasn’t for whitetails, I’d be in the same boat as as the OP as far as hunting locally, not excited at all.

 

[ianpadron]

Ten years ago I’d have agreed with you.

But times have changed. These OTC and hard hit areas are just getting shellacked these days. Everybody and their brothers uncle wants a mule deer these days, and most are more than happy to go home with a forkie. And let’s face it, there’s nothing dumber on this planet than young mule deer!

Nobody spends more time afield in my home area than me. If there were some 170s and 180s around, I’d be finding them. A 150-160 is a real challenge these days. I’ll see just one or two of those a year these days.

And let’s be realistic, a 170 or 180 “or three” in thousands of square miles of country, private land, outfitter land, a man can waste a LOT of precious time trying to find it. And that’s the real litmus test, when the outfitters are sending guys home with 140s on the high end, you know somethings amuck.

Which is almost fine by me anymore. I’d rather hunt whitetails at this point than runt mulies. If it wasn’t for whitetails, I’d be in the same boat as as the OP as far as hunting locally, not excited at all.

Ever drive/hike the winter range during late hunts or month of December in WA? Where do you reckon those deer come from?

 

[MTBackroads]

Wolf tags are not hard to get.

 

[Bachto]

It’s not a politics thing. I feel it’s a waste of time. My experience has been that trying to find a blacktail buck is like hunting unicorns. Then there’s mule deer in this state, which I just cannot get remotely excited about it. I’ve been on too many flat out disappointing hunts to do it again. I’ve had many awesome, positive experiences elsewhere and would like to focus time there if I can. If I can’t, oh well. I’ll have to wait till next year and change up my app strategy.

You need to change your midset a little. Yeah the Washington bucks may not have the most trophy potential but you can absolutely find mature bucks. There are some really cool areas that you can backpack into and have a lot of fun in some cool country. Will you kill a 160 inch+ deer? I mean maybe, but probably not. Can you at least have chances at some mature deer? absolutely.

Me and some buddies were just talking about backpacking into the Wenaha to try and kill a spike or 2. Why would someone do all that work for a spike? We might be a little twisted but it's better than not hunting at all.

You can always hunt fall bear too.

Mindset my dude.

 

[ReddingArcher]

OTC deer and bear tags in California. Can get 2 of each.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

What I haven't seen is anybody can buy an OTC combo deer-elk-cougar-bear license in WA. There's plenty of opportunity. Deer is good anywhere in the state, elk you have to choose which side of the state you want to hunt (both you have to choose your weapon unless you have a multi-season tag). And in most of the state you can buy a second bear license.

 

[Maverick1]

This is so weird. There are great OTC opportunities in every state near you and probably your own (I'm in OR and don't pay much attention to the regs in WA). But none of those are good enough?

Weird? I agree.

OP didn’t draw a single tag in a bunch of states and is frustrated. (Join the club!). Sounds like he figures money will cure that frustration. ?

After being denied in “Wyoming, Arizona, Idaho, Utah and Oregon” sounds like he’s down in the dumps. And his approach appears to be “by gosh, I’m going to spend money now and make this into a great season one way or another.”

Money will buy a big animal and happiness. ?

OP - Shooting a raghorn in CO second or third season - would that cure your doldrums?

Or did you want a guaranteed 200” buck for your $8000?

What is it you are after?

 

[ddd-shooter]

Someone’s watched too much internet hunting….

 

[repins05]

I dont live in Washington but have long time friends there. They live in the western part of the state. They are in the same mindset ...... and dont hunt in WA.

 

[UKwildcatfan]

Go to Sonora for coues. My favorite hunt, I'll be back in January.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Elk otc 2nd season or 3rd in Colorado

Pretty sure he said he wasn’t a very good hunter and struggled to find game that wasn’t standing by the road. If he can’t find a deer in Washington he’s going to struggle to find an elk in otc Colorado.

 

[StuckoYota99]

It’s not a politics thing. I feel it’s a waste of time. My experience has been that trying to find a blacktail buck is like hunting unicorns. Then there’s mule deer in this state, which I just cannot get remotely excited about it. I’ve been on too many flat out disappointing hunts to do it again. I’ve had many awesome, positive experiences elsewhere and would like to focus time there if I can. If I can’t, oh well. I’ll have to wait till next year and change up my app strategy.

I also live in Washington and I'm in the same boat. I'm planning on chasing bears but I have little to no interest in chasing mule deer or black tails.
For context I really suck at hunting deer and I've elk hunted once.

 

[StuckoYota99]

Pretty sure he said he wasn’t a very good hunter and struggled to find game that wasn’t standing by the road. If he can’t find a deer in Washington he’s going to struggle to find an elk in otc Colorado.

The elk are usually by the road. On private....I've had a great success hunting Colorado 3rd season deer.

 

[Sandhills]

If you want to go guided get a Nebraska tag and hunt private. There's some really big deer on private.

 

[mossyhorn]

Wow, I didn’t expect some of these nasty comments. I’m not a lazy hunter, I just have done enough OTC hunts in my life that I don’t have a desire anymore to hunt with the masses for small deer or elk. I’ve killed plenty. I’ve lived in Alaska and got all my guide species by myself. I’ve killed archery elk solo in Wyoming. Had some amazing outdoor experiences in my life.

I’m at a point in my life that getting out is a lot harder than it use to be. Time is a premium. I get maybe 2 weeks a year that I can get out and hunt. I want to make the most of it. Often it’s solo. I’m getting older and am a year out on bilateral hip replacements. I just want a quality hunt and if I gotta pay some money to get one, well I’ve worked hard to be able to do that.

Sorry if my post came off as lazy. Just looking for some advice or some ideas, maybe some things I haven’t thought of. I was in a rush and probably could have written my OP better. I appreciate those that took the time to write a thoughtful response.

 

[John pettimore]

Why not go to the Midwest and hunt whitetails with one less zero in your budget?

 

[MuleyFever]

If you are at that point I would think you would be past chasing inches and just enjoy the time out there.